title: [Neurocysticercosis in Murcia (Spain)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurocysticercosis (NC) is the most prevalent parasitic infection in the CNS. Its frequency in our environment has increased with migratory movements. The clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with NC attended in a third level hospital in an area with a high prevalence of immigrant have been analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was done of the patients registered by the Coding Service of Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital (January 2996 to December 2009), analyzing all the clinical histories of patients discharged with the primary or secondary diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. The most relevant epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  35 patients were included in the study. Of these, 24 were men, all coming from Latin America. The most prevalent onset was seizure episode (27 patients). The number of cases per year began to increase after 2002. Although only 21 of the cases had criteria to begin medical treatment with albendazole, it had been prescribed to 29 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Murcia, NC is mainly an imported disease. An increase in the annual incidence has been observed since 2002, parallel to the rise in the number of immigrants. Approximately 25% of the patients received treatment in spite of not having antiparasitic treatment indication.
authors.affiliation: Servicio Medicina Interna, Hospital Vega del Río Segura, Cieza, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Vázquez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Picazo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001838:Bolivia / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D004484:Ecuador / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole